Meet the students from the College of Public Health and Health Professions, a diverse group dedicated to improving health and well-being in communities around the world. These students come from various backgrounds, united by their passion for health and their commitment to making a positive impact. They bring unique perspectives and experiences to their studies, preparing to become the next generation of health professionals who will address pressing health challenges and advance their field.
Meet: Pei-Yu Wu
Program:Â Public Health, Ph.D., Environmental Health concentration
Educational Background: Master of Science in Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, Bachelor of Science in Health, Diet and Industry Management
Research Interests:
- Computational Modeling
- Risk Assessment
- Toxicology
- Environmental Health
Why did you choose the University of Florida?
There are various opportunities for diversified courses and research resources at the University of Florida. Also, the weather in Florida is very similar to my hometown’s!
What philosophy guides you in your education?
“Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.” — Conan O’Brien
What is your research experience?
- Research assistant at National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) in Taiwan
- Assessed carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of air pollutants for residents near petrochemical industrial parks and suggested that Taiwan EPA prioritize certain air pollutants with relatively high risks.
- Developed the first children’s physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for benzene inhalation exposure and estimated the biomonitoring equivalents of urinary benzene metabolite using a PBPK model.
- Developed a genotype-specific PBPK model for oral exposure to ethanol and acetaldehyde.
If you could solve one environmental and/or global health problem, what would it be?
I would like to solve food safety and environmental pollution problems to alleviate the health impact of harmful chemicals in our environment.
What are your career goals?
I would like to become an independent researcher and apply interdisciplinary knowledge of environmental chemistry and risk assessment to identify how toxicants damage our health and alleviate their impacts.
Want to learn more?
If you’d like to learn more about the Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health program,  click here.
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